Our History: 2013

Opening of Wikitoria Katene

On March 20, the new Health education facility at the Porirua campus was officially opened by the Minister of Health, the Hon Tony Ryall. The new building was named Wikitoria Katene, the name gifted to the previous health building by Ngāti Toa in 2008. The opening event was attended by over 200 staff and invited guests, with speeches from Hon Tony Ryall, Whitireia council chair Hon Roger Sowry, chief executive Don Campbell, and Ngāti Toa kaumātua Taku Parai. Guests were treated to performances by Whitireia Performing Arts students.

Wikitoria Katene against a twilight sky soon after its opening

Commemoration of te Tiriti o Waitangi

On 20 June, Matiu Rei, executive director of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, addressed more than 100 people at an early morning ceremony at the Porirua campus to commemorate the Ngāti Toa signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi. "Ngāti Toa’s post settlement - a vision for the future" was the theme of his address. Whitireia Council Chair Hon Roger Sowry OMZM commended Ngāti Toa on this vision, their business and people. "Your goals, vision and strategies will help significantly change New Zealand and make it a better country," he said.

Matiu Rei, executive director of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, speaking on the post-settlement vision for the future of the iwi

In the news

Stunning show to help studentsKapiti News 2.10.2013

Whitireia New Zealand turned the Kāpiti campus atrium into a high fashion runway on Thursday September 12. The fashion show was held to raise money to assist the beauty and hairdressing students to pay for their City and Guilds International exam fees. Thirteen beauty and hairdressing students created amazing hair styles and makeup for the runway models, who were showcasing local fashion houses' new season clothing by Paperdoll, Helen Ryan, Undercover Secrets, Hipster and shots by Super Minx.

"We worked really hard this year to achieve the high standards that were produced on the cat walk," says student Tiana Thompson-Reed.